Die casting machine



Julie 6, 1939.

R. J. SCHULTZ DIE CASTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 'r, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l attorneys June 6, 1939. R. J. SCHULTZ v 2,161,534

DIE CASTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1936 ,3 Sheets-Sheet 2 VDIEQLIOSED 115 I 14- Ema/.4 I

, I 14, J05 109 93 99 99 95 7.1% l 109 85 101 1 5! inventor WW attorneys June 6, 1939. R. J. SCHULTZ x DIE CASTINGMACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed D90. 7. 1936 I l l w END 0? DIE. OPENING MOVEMENT attorneys NEIL] TRAL 30 provide improved die operating mechanism which to close the die.

Patented June 6, 1939 I I 2,161,534-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIE CASTING MACHINE Raymond J. Schultz, Madison, Wis., assignor to Madison-Kipp Corporation, Madison, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 7, 1936, Serial No. 114,716

15 Claims. (01. 22-92) This invention relates to die casting machines Another object is the provision of a means for and particularly to the mechanism in such maeffecting adjustment of the die actuating mechchines for opening and closing the multi-part anisfn in order to compensate for use of difierdie incident to the charging of the die and the ent sized dies. Other objects and advantages ejection of the casting. will appear from the following detailed descrip- 5 It is necessary in die casting machines emtion and the accompanying drawings showing a ploying multi-part separable dies tc have certain practical embodiment of the invention, wherein: mechanism for b inging the parts together to Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a receive a char ffmetal', and then for opendie casting machine to which the invention has ing the die by j ating the die parts to permit been applied, certain of the parts being broken 10 removal of the fting. Generally, removal of away and the die being shown in closed position. the casting is ted automatically during, and Fig. 2 is an elevation of the right hand end as a result of ration of automatic ejecting of the machine as it appears in Fig. 1, certain of means caused by, :the opening movement of the the parts also being broken away.

1-3 die. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1

In present practice, it is usual to run the die showing the die fully opened and the ejecting casting apparatus at high speed in order to meet means operated. the demand for quantity production of castings. Figs. 4 to 7 are similar elevational views, part- As a result, the closing movement of the die ly in section, of the exhaust-control valve opertakes place at a comparatively high rate of speed ating means for the cylinder forming part of the 20 with a resultant objectionable slamming or bangpressure-fluid type die actuating mechanism used. ing of the die parts as they engage to close the the parts being shown in the successive positions die. Similarly, due to the highspeed of operaassumed by them as the die moves from closed tion of the machine, the die opening movement to full open position.

is efiected very rapidly and, consequently, there Fig. 8 is a plan of the valve operating mech- 25 is an undesirable slamming or banging as the anism as shown in Fig. 4. automatic ejecting means are operated at the Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-4 of Fig. 1 showend of the die opening movement. ing the hand control valve for the die actuating It is a purpose of the present invention to mechanism in the position to which it is moved will actuate the die during its closing movement Fig. 10 is a section on line Ill-l0 of Fig. i), so as to eliminate this objctionableslamming except that the parts are shown diagrammati- 'at the end of the closing operation and yet cally in order to bring the several passages and close and hold the die parts in a manner to cause ports into one plane; and

them to fit accurately and tightly together. Fig. 11 is a similar view of the valve moved to 35 A further purpose is the provision of a die opthe die opening position. 4 erating mechanism which, in operating-the mov- Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, the maable die part (or parts) to open the die, will acchine shown. comprises a frame made up of a tuate the movable die part so as to eliminate base I2 having legs l3 and supporting a hollow the undesirable in o han i o he parts frame body It. Body 14 is open at the bottom incidental to operation of the automatic ejecting and base I: at the top to provide free space for means and Still move the die P in a a e the die operating piston and cylinder unit de- 150 efiect D D Operation of he ejecting mechscribed later. Machine screws l5 secure base I! s and body I4 together at their abutting edges.

A further object is the designing of die oper- Frame body I4 has an upright portion l6 to 45 at g eans w i h, n p nin t e d a er a which the fixed-half ll of the die isremovably casting has been shot, will cause the-movabledie secured in any suitable manner. The movable part (or parts) to begin the opening movement half l8 of the die is detachably afiixed to one Suddenly and at a co par tively gh Speedend of a ram 19 mounted for reciprocation in an This results in proper "breaking" of the, d1e,.so opening 20 extending through a second upright 50 that if any cores are used they are pulled from portion 2| at the opposite end of the machine. the casting much more easily and cleanly, and. An elongated pinion 22 is mounted in upright the resulting jerk serves eflectivelyto break the 2| and meshes with rack teeth 23 on ram is, casting loose from the stationary part of the so that rotation of the pinion in a clockwise didie when'this arrangement is usedy rection (Figs. 1 -and 2) serves to open the die 66 appears in Fig. 1.

link 25 pivotally connected at 21 to the ram and posite end of ram i3 and extensions 25, 25' of the frame l4 to lock the-die in closed position,'as The toggle means comprise also pivotally connected at 28 to links 29, 29". The latter are pivotally connected at 30,- 30' to v the frame, these pivotal connections being hori- 'zontally adjustable by set screw means 3|, 3|

so that the toggle locking mechanism may be set tit-function properly when slightly varying thicknesses.

An upright link 32 is pivotally connected at 23 to the toggle means tor operating the same. .The lower end of this link is pivotally connected at 33 with a lever 34 pivotally mounted at 35 on a rod 35 extending between the legs oi the frame. The outer end of lever is in the, form of a treadle '34. Suitably secured to the floor near the end or the machine is a bracket member 31 having standards 38, 38 carrying a' pin 39 on which is pivoted a lever 40. The outer end of lever 40 forms a treadle 4|, while the inner end .43 of the leveris disposed" beneath treadle 34'. i

A spring 42 urges lever 40 towards the position oi Fig. 1.

' With the parts in the die-closed position of 42 returns lever 40 to its normal position when treadle 4| is released. To-close the die and lock it, hand wheel 24 is rotated in the opposite disrection, and as 'movable die part I3 approaches closed p sition, the operator steps on treadle 34'.

This causes link 32 to straighten out the toggle and thus tightly lock die parts l1 and I 3 toether. Hand wheel 24 and treadles 34'. and 4| are for manual manipulation of the machine,

particularly when setting the die for a new operation. a

Since the means for supplying the metal charge to the closed die form no part of the present invention, the charging means used are merely shownin dotted lines in Fig. 2, in position for shooting a casting. Obviously any other suitable type of means for charging the die with metal in molten, or other moldable condition, may be used In general, the metal charging mechanism 11- lustrated comprises a unit 43 pivotally supported at 44 on the machine frame tor automatic vertical swinging lnovement between the elevated die charging position illustrated when the die is closed, and a lowered, inoperative position when the die is open,'. Charging'unit 43 includes a furnace 45, a melting pot 48 and a gooseneck 41.

The latter receives the molten metal from pot and is adapted to discharge it under pressure through gooseneck nozzle 43 into the closed, sidegated die at the parting line. Manually controlled pressure fluid means in the form of a -metal to the die and piston and cylinder unit 49 and a connected piston 53 located in gooseneck" serve to feed the apply the necessary pres- V sure thereto.

Charging unit 4: is moved between its die charging and non-operating positions by an 'opv crating connection extending between the botused with dies of 54 to which a link 55 is joined by a universal,

connection 56, while the lower end of the link also has a universal connection 51 with lever 34,

Thus, when the inner end of foot lever 34 rises during closing of the die, toggle 5| is extended by the mechanism described to swing charging unit 43 upwardly and bring nozzle 43 into charging engagement with the die. Final movement of the nozzle into actual engagement with the die takes place just after the die parts contact. This is efi'ected by a short additional upwardmovement which lever 34 has after the die parts engage, such movement being permitted by a lost-motion connection between ram |9and die part i 8 described later. Similarly, when the inner end of lever 34 descends in opening the die, the first part of this movement swings unit 43 downwardly to disengage the nozzle from the die,

whereupon the die opens while the unit continues to descend.

Slidably mounted for limited movementon the outer end of ram I9, which has a pocket i9 therein, is a carriage 58 to which movable die half 18 is detachably afllxed by screw means l8. Carriage 58 has a. hollow, open-ended extension'59' which receives the ram. This exten- \sion carries screw lugs 60 projecting into corresponding, elongated slots ii in the ram to limit theoutward movement of the carriage on the ram. A coil spring 52 is placed under compression in pocket I92: Thus, when the die is open, as appears in Fig, 3, spring 62 extends the die carriage and ram assembly so that each lug 60 engages the outer end of its slot 6i.

However, during the latter partof the movement of ram is to close the die, die part l8 engages fixed die part IT to close the die, and then the slight overtravel of foot lever 34 referred to before, and the resulting additional movement of ram i9, first cause'i'urther compression of spring 62 to yieldably hold the die parts together and then rigidly lock them together as the ,outer end 01 the ram engages the inner end 63 of die carriage extension 53' (Fig. 1). During this compression of spring 52, lugs Glimove to the other ends of their-slots and metal charging nozzle 43 is moved into engagement with the closed die.- As retraction of the ram starts in opening the die, spring 62 expands and lugs 53 slide outward in their slots to permit disengage- .ment of metal nozzle 48 Irom the die before it opens. Lugs 60 then engage their outer slot ends" nection between the ram and the die carriage permits the use of die parts of different thicknesses.

e The casting ejecting means; as shown in thedie open position of Fig. 3, include a reciprocable ejecting plate 35 located in chamber 66 of die carriage 58. Ejection return pins 61 and ejector pins 63 project slidably through passages in die half i8 and are attached to plate 65. JIhe means for automatically operating the ejecting means comprise ejectorbars 69 slidably mounted in passages in die carriage 58. The inner ends of these bars project into chamber 56 to operate plate 65, while the outer ends carry adjustable screws39' 2,181,584 whereby the length of the bars may be adjusted.

With this arrangement, as shown in Fig. 1, when the die closes return pins 81 are pushed in by the fixed die half to move plate 85 to the right and draw in ejector pins 88. This movement of plate 85 pushes out ejector bars 89, ready for operation to eject the casting when the die opens. As the die opens, the ejecting means remain in the position mentioned until screws '89 of ejector bars 89 strike upright 2I of the frame near the end of the opening movement. This causes bars 89 to be forced through the die carriage to operate plate 85 and pins 88 to eject the casting. As the opening movement of ram I9 is completed, the parts of the ejecting mechanism return to their positions of Fig. 3, with plate 85 against die part I8.

The power means for actuating the described mechanism for opening and closing the die, and to which my invention more particularly relates, will now be described. Located within the hollow machine frame is a pressure fluid unit comprising a cylinder 18 and a double-acting piston 1I. Cylinder 18 has a perforated lug 18 whereby it is pivotally mounted at its upper end on a rod 12 supported in the machine frame. Piston rod 18 is pivotally connected at its lower end 18' to the inner end of foot lever 34. When the die is closed, as in Fig. 1, the piston is in the upper end of the cylinder, and with the die open, as shown in Fig. 3, the piston is located in the bottom of the cylinder.

Compressed air, or other suitable fluid is fed to and exhausted from opposite ends of cylinder 18 by pipe line 14 leading to the bottom thereof and pipe line 15 leading to the top. A bracket 18 secured to extensions 25, 25' of the machine frame carries valve means for manually and primarily controlling the flow of pressure fluid through pipe lines 14 and 15. These valve means comprise a casing 11 having a ported'valve seat cover 18 secured thereto (see Figs. 9, 10 and 11 for details). Chamber 19 in the casing containsa rotatable ported valve member 88 urged into tight contact with seat member '18 by coil spring 8|. A pipe 82 leading from a suitable source of supply continuously furnishes pressure fluid at full pressure to valve chamber 19. Cylinder pipe line 14 connects to passage 88 in cover 18, pipe line 15 to passage 84, and an exhaust pipe 85 to passage 88, all of these passages opening onto the lower face of the cover in arcuate arrange.- ment (see Fig. 9). Also arranged in alined. arouate arrangement are a through passage 81, a similar passage 88, and a groove 89 in valve disk 88. Valve 88 is operated by a stem 98 (Fig. 9) having a handle 9| secured to its upperend (Figs. 1 and 2).

With the die closed and piston 1| elevated as in Fig. 1 valve handle 9| is located in the rearmost position of Fig. 1, which is the dotted line or Die close position of Fig. 9. At this time, the valve passages are connected as indicated in Figs. 9 and 10, full pressure flowing from valve chamber 19 through passage 81 to pipe 14 and thence to the lower end of cylinder 18. At this time passage 88 is blanked, but groove 89 connects passages .84 and 85 so as to exhaust the upper end of cylinder 18 through pipe 15 to exhaust pipe 85. When the die is to be opened, handle Si is moved to its foremost position, i. e., the Die open" position of Fig. 9. The position of the ports at this time are shown in Fig. 11, in which full pressure from valve chamber 19 flows through passage 88 to pipe 15 and thence to the top of cylinder 18 to force piston 1| down to open the die. At the same time, passage 81 is blanked, but groove 89 connects passages 83 and 88 to vent the bottom of cylinder 18 through pipe 14 to exhaust pipe 85. Movement of handle 9| to the Neutral position of Fig. 9, blanks passages 81 and 88,'but connects passages 83 and 84 to passage 88 and thus vents both ends of cylinder 18 to exhaust pipe 85.

The rate of escape from exhaust pipe 85 to the atmosphere of compressed air vented thereto from the ends'of cylinder 18 is regulated automatically .by the die operating mechanism in the particular manner described below, so as to vary the power applied to the die operating mechanism by piston 'II during the die opening and closing movements thereof and thus, as explained later, control the speed of movement of the operating mechanism in a manner to eliminate the objectionable slamming of the parts at the end of each stroke of ram I9. Exhaust pipe 85 leads to an inlet port 92 in a valve casing 93'(Figs. 4 to 8) secured by screws 94, 94 to the rear face of the machine frame. Threaded into the open end .of cylindrical chamber 95 of the valve casing is a gland 98' having an adjusting head 91. An exhaust port 98 is provided in the valve casing.

Mounted for reciprocation in valve chamber 95 is an exhaust-control valve 99 having a tapered su face 99' adapted to coact with a tapered valve seat 92 to regulate the flow of exhaust fluid from pipe 85 into chamber 95, whence it passes through annular space I88 between the valve and the casing and out through exhaust opening 98. Since the area of annular space I88 is greater than the area of either inlet port 92 or exhaust 'port 98, which latter are the same, it will be clear that the rate at which pressure fluid escapes from exhaust port 98 will be directly controlled by the area of the annular space I8I between tapered valve seat 92' and tapered valve surface 99'. This area of course varies according to the distance between the valve and its seat.

As valve 99 begins to open, the escape of exhaust fluid from port 92, and hence from port 98, is restricted, but quickly increases until the area-of annular space I8I equals that of exhaust port 98 or inlet port 92. This causes unrestricted or maximum rate of flow of exhaust fluid from port 98 which continues until the valve reaches its extreme open or right hand position (Figs. 4 and 7). As valve 99' closes, the reverse of the action described takes place, maximum or unrestricted venting taking place at ports 92 and 98 until the valve reaches the point where the areas of space IM and exhaust port 98 are equal, and then restriction of the exhaust flow being quickly brought about as the valve moves closer to its seat.

Valve 99 is operated by its stem I82, which extends through gland 98, and a coil spring I88 in the valvecasing which continuously urges the valve towards its seat to restrict the escape of on a spring washer I84 to set up sufficient frictional resistance to prevent pivotal movement of link I88 unless it is positively moved, as explained later. The outer end of link I88 has the end-oi the upper arm I99 of slot I01 is a screw I09 which is adjustably mounted in the link and secured by a lock nut I09. By releasing the lock" nut and adjusting the screw or stop inwardly or'outwardly, the eifective length of the slot arm I09 may be varied. A similar ad justing screw or stop H and lock nut 0' are provided in the lower arm III ofthe slot.

Ram pinion 22 projects from the rear face of the machine and has an annular groove 1 I2 which receives the lower curved edge of a retainer plate H9 secured to the frame by screws Ill. Rigldly secured on the end of pinion 22 by a screw 5 is a radially disposed arm II9. This arm is also keyed to the pinion by a pin II 1 to prevent movement of the arm about screw II 5. The outer end of arm IIB carriesa headed stud H9 which extends through and is adapted to operate in U-shaped slot III! of link I08 as pinion 22 oscillates back and forth during operation of the machine.

. adjustment of stops I09 and IIO.

on pirrlM'. The tension Fig. 4 shows the position of am Hi and stud 9 when the die is in the closed position of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 shows the position of the arm and stud 9 after the die has been fully opened as shown in Fig. 3. During this operation pinion 22 -revalves and stud II 8 travels in an arcuate path somewhat less than 360 in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Figs. 4 to '7. As the die is closed, pinion 22 revolves in the opposite direction and stud II9 retraces its arcuate path of movement to return the parts to the position of Fig. 4. With the arrangement and proportioning oi the parts shown, valve stem I02 alines with the center of pinion 22, and the arcuate movement of stud H8 is the same both above and below a horizontal plane extending through the axis of pinion 22.

Stud H9 is adapted near each end of its arcuate movement to engage either st'op I090: H0 and thus pull valve 99 away from its seat, to permit unrestricted exhaust, by shifting link I00 to the right as the stud completes the last portion of its arcuate movement.- Shortly after the beginning of its return movement in either direction, stud I I9 moves out of engagement with stop I09 (or H0) and spring I09 is free to again ,move the exhaust-control valve towards its seat to restrict the exhaust. Therefore, during the intermediate and greater portion of the arcuate movement of stud H9 in either direction, and the corresponding movement of ram I9, valve 99 is controlled by spring I09 to restrict the escape of exhaust fluid from the non-working end of power cylinder I0 and thus retard'movement of piston II. Stud H9 at this time imparts no movement to valve 99, but merely travels through U-shaped slot I01, this being permitted by the necessary pivotal movement of link I09 provided by spring washer I 04' prevents link I06 from dropping of its own accord during movement of stud 8' from the position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 7, and thereby causing operation of the stud only in the upper half of U shaped slot I01.

The point near each end of the arcuate movement of stud H9, and consequently the corresponding point near each end of the reciprocatory movement of ram I9, at which the stud engages stop I09 or 0 to move valve 99 to its unrestricted exhaust position, may be varied by In their illustrated positions, these stops project the same distance into the ends of the U-shaped slot so that, with the parts of the machine proportioned and arranged as shown, valve 99 will be operated Starting with the die closed, as shown in Pig. 1, the general 'followszoperation of the machine is as At this time valve handle 9| is in the Die close position of Fig. 9 so that air under pressure in the bottom of cylinder I0 holds the die closed, while stud II8 holds exhaust control valve 99 in the position of Fig. 4 to permit free exhaust from the top of cylinder I0. The ejecting means are retracted-and ram spring 62 is compressed, while piston 50 has been elevated following the shooting of a casting.

Upon movement of valve handleBI to its forward position (Die open position, Fig. 9), air under full pressure enters at the top of cylinder 10 to move piston II downwardly and start the opening movement of ram IS. The first par-t of this movement'permits spring 62 to expand and nozzle 48 disengages from the closed die. Lugs 60 then engage the ends of their slots and the die'parts are separated. During this movement of the ram, stud II8 moves toward the position of Fig. 5, so that valve 99 is forced towards its seat by its spring, but not to the point where restriction of the exhaust flow occurs. As the ramcontinues to move, and shortly after the die opens, valve 99 quickly moves to its exhaustrestricting position as shown in Fig. 5. As this time stud II'8 ismoving out of contact with stop begins its opening movement suddenly and at a comparatively high speed to efiectively break the die.

As soon as valve .99 moves to restricting position (Fig. 5) and'thereby retards movement of pistonJI, all of the parts including ram I9 and die part I8'move at a reduced, substantially uniform speed. This continues until justv before election takes place. Shortly before ejector bar screws -69' engage upright 2|, stud Il8 engages stop II 0 as shown in Fig. 6. Further movement of the stud quickly moves valve 99 to non-restricting or free exhaust position, so as to cause full application to ram I9 of the'power acting on piston II, just prior to operation of the ejecting means. As the ejecting means are operated (Fig. 3), stud H9 moves valve 99 to the final position of Fig. 7. Thus, ejection is accomplished while full fluid pressure is acting on the die opening mechanism. This increases the speed of the mechanism and die part I9 and thus insures complete and eflicient ejection of the casting. V

Because of the retarded speed at which die part I9 and its operating mechanism travel durthe opening movement is insuflicient to cause any objectionable slamming of the parts as the ejecting mechanism is operated. If the speed of piston II were not controlled or its operation cushioned as described, but full exhaust from cylinder I9 permitted during theentire opening movement of the die, the operating parts would gain such momentum during this movement that an extremely objectionable slamming of the parts would take place when the ejecting means are actuated.

The reverse of the above described operation takes place when the die is closed as the result of movement of valve handle 9| to the Die close" position of Fig. I?" This causes entry of air under full pressure into the bottom of cylinder 10, which latter had been completely exhausted to the atmosphere by valve 99 at the-end of the die opening movement. At this time, valve 99 is in the non-restricting position of Fig. 7, which efiects free exhausting of the fluid in the upper end of cylinder 10. At the start of the ram return movement, the ejecting means move out of engagement with upright 2| and stud H9 moves clockwise toward the position of Fig. 6 to permit valve 99 to be moved towards its seat by its spring, but not to its restricting position. Upon continued movement of the ram, spring I03 returns the valve to its restricting position of Fig. 6 and stud I I9 moves out of engagement with stop H0. Thus the closing movement of the parts begins rapidly, since the parts are subjected to the full force of the pressure fluid entering cylinder 19. I

With valve 99 in restricting position, all of the parts continue their closing movement at a refore engagement of the die parts. As the die parts contact and ram l9 overtravels to its flnal position of Fig. .1, stud H8 moves valve 99 to its original position of Fig. 4, during which timespring 62 is compressed and metal nozzle 49 engages the closed-die ready to repeat the casting operation. Closing of the die being thus effected by full application of fluid pressure to the operating mechanism, beginning shortly before the die parts engage, movable die part It is brought against the fixed part at a comparatively high speed. As a result the die parts flt accuratelyand tightly together.

Similarly to the action during the die opening operation, the retarded speed at which the die part I9 and the operating mechanism move during the major part of the die closing movement prevents such increased rate of movement of the parts at the end of the closing movement as wouldcause objectionable slamming of the parts as they engage.

As explained, the load on valve 99 and thus the rate of movement of piston II and ram l9 during the intermediate portion of each stroke, may be varied by adjusting gland 96. This gland may be turned outwardly to increase the speed of the ram or turned inwardly to decrease its speed, in order to obtain the desired rate of movement of the parts in both directions without slamming.

Although a practical embodiment of the invention has been. illustrated and described, oh-

1 viously various modifications thereofare possible without departing from the scope of the invention except as the same may be limited by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: i I 1. The combination in a die casting machine of a multi-part separable diej'one of said parts being adapted for movement to open and close the die; power actuated means, including a double-acting, pressure-fluid piston and cylinder unit, for imparting said movement to the movable die part; means for'feeding pressure fluid from a source of supply to the working end of said cylinder throughout the closing movement of the movable die part; and automatic means, actuated as a result of operation of said movable die part, for controlling the flow of exhaust fluid from the opposite end of the cylinder so as to retard said flow during the major portion of the die closing movement, but cause full flow thereof during the last portion of said movement, whereby to regulate operation of the movable die part and thus prevent slamming of the die in closing.

2. The combination in a die casting machine of a m'ultipart, separable die, one of said parts being adapted for movement to close the die to form a casting and open the die to removethe casting; means on said movable die part adapteded to be actuated ,by engagement with a part of the machine during opening of the die to eject the casting; power actuated means, including a pressure-fluid piston and cylinder unit, for imparting said opening movement to the movable die part; means for feeding pressure fluid from a, source of supply to the working end of said cylinder throughout 'the opening movement of said die part; and automatic means, actuated as a result of operation of said movable die part, for controlling the flow of exhaust fluid from the opposite end of the cylinder so as to retardsaid flow during the major portion of the die opening movement, but cause full flow thereof during the last portion of said movement and beginning prior to actuation of the ejecting means,

whereby to regulate operation of the movable die part and prevent slamming of the parts in operating the ejecting means. 9 a

3. The combination ina die casting machine of a multi-part separable die, one of said partsbe- 'ing adapted for movement to open and close the die; power actuated means, including a pressure fluid piston and cylinder unit, for imparting said opening movement to the movable die part; means for feeding, pressure fluid from a source of supply to the working end of said cylinder throughout the opening movement of said die part; and automatic means, actuated as a result of operation of said movabledie part, for controlling the flow of exhaust fluid from the opposite end of the cylinder so as to retard said flow during the major portion of the die opening movement, but cause full flow thereof during the first portion of said movement, whereby to regulate operation of the movable die part so as to insure proper separation of the die parts.

4. The combination in a die casting machine of a multi-part, separable die, one of said parts being adapted for movement to close the die to form a casting and open the die to remove the machine during opening of the die to eject the casting; power actuating means, including a pressure fluid piston and cylinder unit, for im- 15 pressure actuated means for imparting said parting said opening movement to the movable die part; means for feeding pressurefluid from a-source of supply to the working end of said cylinder throughout the opening movement of said die part; and automatic means, actuated as a result of operation of said movable die part, for controlling the flow of exhaust fluid from the opposite end of the cylinder so as to retard said flow during the intermediate portion of the die opening movement, but cause full flow thereof during the first portion ofsaid movement and during the last portion of said movement beginning prior to actuation of the ejecting means, whereby to regulate operation of the movable die part to thereby insure proper separation oi'the I die parts and prevent slamming of the parts in operating the ejecting means.

5. The combination in a die casting machine of a pair of separable coacting die parts adpted for movement relatively to each other; power actuated means, including a pressure cylinder and piston unit, for imparting said movement to one of said die parts; means for feeding pressure fluid from a source of supply to the working end of said cylinder to operate the movable die part; a, spring-loaded valve for resisting the escape ofexhaust from the opposite end of the cylinder; and a link connected to said exhaust valve and having a pin-and-slot connection with the power actuated means, whereby engagement of the pin with an end of said slot is adapted to impart opening movement to the exhaust valve during a portion of the movement of the movable die part and thus regulate, operation of said die par 1 6. In a die casting machine, the combination or a pair of separable, cooperating die parts adapted for relative movement towards each other; power actuating means, including a cylinder and piston unit, for imparting said movement to one of said parts; and'means for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder and automatically controlling the fluid pressure therein, as a result of operation of said movable part, so that the effective pressure acting on the piston to operate the movable part is relatively low until said part reaches a point a predetermined distance from said cooperating part and then is increased until said parts engage with each other, whereby to regulate operation of said movable partso as to cooperating parts.

7. In a die casting machine, the combination f a pair of separable, coacting parts adapted relative movement towards each other; fluid movement to one of said parts; and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said actuating means and automatically controlling the fluid pressure therein, as a result of operation said movable part, so that the effective pressure acting to operate the movable part is relatively low until said partis relatively close to said coacting part and then is increased until said parts contact with each other, whereby to regulate operation or said movable part so as to prevent slamming of said cooperating parts.

8. The combination in a die casting machine of a. multi-part die, one of said parts being adapt! ed for movement to close the die; means for imparting said movement to the movable die part; and controlling means for causingsaid die part to move at a substantially uniform, retarded speed until said die part reaches a point a predetermined distance from the end of said closmovement and beginning prevent slamming of said ing movement and then move'at high speed until the die closes. g

9. The combination in a die casting machine of a multi-part die, one of said parts being adaptparting said movement to the movable die part;

and controlling means for causing said die part to move at retarded speed until said die part reaches a point a predetermined distance from the end of said opening movement and then at high speed during the balance of the opening prior to actuation of the ejecting means.

10. The combination in a die casting machine of a pair of cooperating parts adapted for movement relatively to each other to move said parts 1 into and out of contact; power actuated means, including a cylinder and piston unit, for imparting said movement to one of said parts; means for feeding fluid underpressure from a source of supply to the working end of said cylinder throughout the movement of said part; and automatic means, actuated'as a result of operation of said movable part, for controlling the escape of exhaust fluid from the opposite end of the cylinder so as to cause free flow thereof when said movable part is operating relatively closely to said cooperating part, but retard said flow when the movable part operates farther from said cooperating part, whereby to regulate operation of said movable part. i

11. The combination in a die casting machine of a pair of separable, cooperating parts adapted for relative movement towards each other; power actuated means, including a pressure fluid cylinder and piston unit, for imparting said movement ,to one of said parts; means for feeding pressure fluid from a source of supply to the working end of said cylinder throughout said movement of the movable part; and-automatic means, actuated as a result of operation of said movable part, for controlling the escape of exhaust'fluid from the opposite end of the cylinder so "as to retard said flow during .'movement of said movable part until it reaches a 'point a predetermined distance from said, cooperating part and then cause free flow of the exhaust until the cooperating parts engage, whereby to regulate, operation of said movable part so as to prevent slamming of said cooperating parts.

l2. 'I'he combination in a die casting machine of a pair of cooperating parts adapted for move-- said means including a cylinder and a piston adapted for limited movement in said cylinder to operate said movable part; means for feeding fluid under pressure from a source of supply to the working end of said cylinder throughout said movement of the piston; and automatic means,

actuated as a result of operation of said movable part for controlling the escape of exhaust fluid from the opposite end of the cylinder so as to cause free flow thereof during operation of the piston within the portion of its movement adjoining its operating limit, but retard said-flow during operation 01' the piston beyond said portion of its movement, whereby to regulate-or eration of said piston and said movable part.

13. The combination in a die castingv machine or a pair of cooperating parts adapted for relative movement towards and into contact "with each other; power actuated means for imparting said movement to one of said parts, said means including a pressure fluid cylinder and a piston adapted for limited movement in one direction in said cylinder to operate said movable part;

means for feeding pressure fluid from a source of supply to the working end ofsaid cylinder throughout said movement. of the piston; and.

automatic means, actuated as a result of operation of said movable part, for controlling the escape of exhaust fluid from the opposite end of the cylinder so as to retard said flow duringmovement of the piston until it reaches a point a predetermined distance from said limit 01' movement and then cause free escape oi theexhaustuntil said limit is-reached, whereby to regulate operation of said movable part so as to prevent slamming of said cooperating parts.

14. The combination in a die casting machine of a pair of separable, cooperating parts adapted for movement relatively to eachother; power actuated means for imparting said movemei t to one of said parts, saidmeans including a pressure fluid cylinder and a piston adapted for limited reciprocatory movement in said cylinder to operate said movable part; means for feeding pres--' sure fluid from a source of supply to the working end of said cylinder throughout the stroke of the piston in one direction; and automatic means, actuated as a result oioperation of said movable part, for controlling the escape oi. .exhaust fluid from the opposite end of the cylinder so as to cause free flow thereof at the ends of the piston stroke and retard said flow durmined limit; means adapted ior application of force thereto to actuate said movable die part;

controlling means for causingta relatively heavy application of io'rce to said actuating means when the movable die part'is operating relatively close- 1y to said limit of movement and a reduced application of force thereto when said part operates farther from said limit; and means for adjusting said controlling means so as to vary the range of movement of the movable die part within which said relatively heavy applicationoi force .talres place.-

RAYMOND J. SCHUL'IZ. 

